Illuminating the world one paragraph at a time

Stay prepared, don’t play catch-up.

So I’m in the kitchen making sandwiches for dinner as I watch (well technically listen to) ball girl magic with Ros Gold Onwude and Yvonne Orji and the guest A.J Andrews says “…I feel like you should stay prepared rather than trying to catch-up…” and this instantly reminded me of a post I wanted to do about staying ready. I never got around to writing it because I didn’t want to be one of those people that would say one thing but do another, you know the “do as I say not as I do” people. When it comes to staying prepared I struggle y’all. Certain things come naturally to me so it’s not hard to prepare but the ones that don’t mehn! It’s a struggle. Sometimes I drop the ball, I start off saying “you know what, I will make a plan and stick to it”, but then I wait until the very last minute before getting things done * all my do the assignment the night before the deadline people, I hail oh*. I feed off the pressure and the high of waiting until the very end but in retrospect, I realize that I have created a vicious cycle of playing catch up. Yeah! I get away with it sometimes but when life hits me with the occasional curve balls, the wind gets knocked out of my sails and I sink in my state of unpreparedness. Hence, I felt unqualified to be writing about being prepared but I’m going to share a little something-something. I’m messy and organised, prepared and unprepared at the same time if you can understand or even relate. This is definitely not what God wants from me, I know that so I’m working on it.

This reminds me of what apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6: 13-14 -“…Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Stand firm then…”

The first thing I would like to point out is that he said “put on” meaning it is your responsibility to prepare by putting on the armour, God’s is not going to do it for you. Secondly, he said “full armour” no half-baked prepping; arm yourself with everything you need. Thirdly, you do this before the day of evil comes (there is an awareness of the day of evil), not during but before; don’t wait to the very last minute. No soldier leaves training till the day of war. Lastly, all this equips you to stand your ground (amplified version says in your place, fully prepared, immovable and victorious) and now that you are standing firm with your arsenal; execute.

Not only should we prepare but we should stay prepared, yes it’s not easy but you have to train yourself because you’re in God’s army and he doesn’t want you to be swayed about by the circumstances of life. Let your goals motivate you; in this interview, A.j says working hard has always been part of her because she has always wanted to be the best at anything she does and that for her is her motivation to keep going. For me I try to remind myself anytime I’m comfortable slaking that I’m carrying God’s logo (I’m his workmanship- Ephesians 2:10) I can’t be on these streets flopping or caught slipping. Even Jesus prepared: when he went to the synagogue as a kid, the wilderness before his public ministry started (Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11) and on several occasions, we were told in the bible that he separated himself and took time to pray, that is preparation to me.

Prepare yourself in the place of prayer, seek knowledge, stay abreast with the things happening around, make a plan and execute it. Don’t play catch up! get ready! stay ready! So when opportunities present themselves you don’t lose out.